Man Booted Off American Airlines Flight After Exploding Over 'Merry Christmas' Greeting at LaGuardia Airport
A grumpy American Airlines passenger with a burning hatred for Christmas was nixed from a domestic flight Tuesday when he exploded and refused to be calmed after the airline's staff wished him "merry Christmas."
According to the New York Post, which does not identify the passenger, it was a cheerful gate agent who first triggered his anger as he waited to board American Airlines flight 1140 to Dallas by wishing him and other passengers a merry Christmas as they checked in.
"You shouldn't say that because not everyone celebrates Christmas," the man reportedly shouted at her.
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The agent then asked: "Well, what should I say then?"
Before moving along he replied, "Don't say merry Christmas!"
Things escalated, however, once the passenger who appeared to be traveling alone got on the plane. A flight attendant wished him merry Christmas and he flew into a rage.
"Don't say, merry Christmas!" he screamed, and proceeded to berate the flight attendants and the pilots.
The staff reportedly tried calming him down but he refused until they were forced to escort him off the plane as other passengers cheered.
The flight was delayed by about 40 minutes as a result of the outburst, according to reports.
On Christmas Day American Airlines appeared to adopt a more politically correct greeting on the company's Twitter and Facebook pages.
"May your Christmas be merry and bright," the company noted in a Facebook post along with a festive photo bearing a sign saying: "The employees of American Airlines wish you and your families Happy Holidays."
